Aeroplane wing



April 22, 1930. J, F MCKEN ZHg AEROPLANE WING Filed April 18, 1928 D N 'INVENTOR.

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' ATTO NE T Patented Apr. 22, .1930

" PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH rLoYn MCKENZIE, or ABILENE, 'rnxAs' AEROPLAN E WING- Applicationfiled April 18,

This invention relates to wings for aeroplanes and has for its object to increase the efficiency of a regular aeroplane wing by changing the air foil curve from a high speed and low lift curve to a very low speed and high lift curve to provide the high speed of a biplane, when carrying a full load, approximately four times its landing speed.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an aeroplane wing with an upwardly adjust able expansive top whereby the aeroplane will have a low landing speed when the top of the wingis raised to give maximum lift or have a high top speed when'the top is lowered to give the smallest amount of resistance, under such conditions a biplane built with a large upper wing, in accordance with this invention and small lower wings to carry the control surface and support the upper wing will have a high speed four times its landing speed when carrying a full load, whereas, at present, it does not have as much as three. times its landing speed.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an aeroplane wing, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, readily'adjustable, thoroughly eflicient for the purpose intended, readily assembled and comparatively inexpensive to set up.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically? described,fand illustrated in the accompanying drawin 5, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

1928. Serial No. 270,932.

of the wing in normal position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the wing with the adjustable top removed.

.Figure 3 is a fragmentary View of the top of the wing looking toward the inner face of-the top.

An aeroplane wing, in accordance with this invention, will be built up similar to wings now generally used with a very high speed curve. The top '1 of the wing will be formed from multi-ply wood veneer. The top 1 will be divided at a point between the sixty percent and ninety per-cent of the cord, thereby providing a pair of sections 2, 3 which are shiftable relatively to each other when the top is expanded and contracted. The bottom 4 of the wing is formed by a sheet of fabric, preferably linen.

The leading edge of the top 1 is indicated at A and the trailing edge at B. The rear of section 2 of the top overlaps the front of the section 3. Positioned against, as well as being secu'redto the inner face of the section 2 are spaced, opposed top reinforcing elements 5 preferably constructed of spruce. Each reinforcing element is formed of a row of short, endwise opposed strips secured to the section 1. The elements 5 extend from the forward end of section 2 and terminate forwardly of the rear end thereof.

Secured to the inner face of the section 3 and arranged with the reinforcing elements 5, as well as being spaced therefrom are top reinforcing elements 6 constructed in the same manner as the elements 5. The ele ments 6 extend from the rear end ofthe section 3 to a point removed from the forward end thereof.

Secured to the inner face of the section 3 are top reinforcing elements 7 constructed in the same manner as the elements 5 and. 6.

The elements 7 project from the forward end of the section 3 and oppose the inner face of the section 2, but are not connected to the latter.

The elements 5, 6 and 7 act when the top 1 is raised to force said top to form the correct curve for the maximum lift.

The forward end of the section 3 is bifurcated to straddle the rear ends of elements 5. i The bifurcations are indicated at 8. The forward end of the section 3 is also provided with spaced, lengthwise extending slots 9 through which extend bolts 10 provided with nuts 11. The bolts 10 are secured to section 2 and in connection with the slots 9 slidably connect the section 2 upon the forward end of section 3. The slidable connection is pro vided to permit of expanding the top 1 to the full line position shown in Figure 1.

The ribs of the wing are indicated at 12 and to. which is secured the bottom 4. Combined coupling bracing members are positioned at the front and rear of the ribs as at 13, 14 respectively. The landing end of the top 1 is hinged to member 13, as at 15 and the follower or trailing end of top 1 is hinged to member 14, as at 16.

Flexible steel cables 17 and 18 respectively are provided for connecting sections 2 and 3 to theribs 12, and these latter are of known construction.

Connected to the ribs 12 are forward and rear beams 19, 20 respectively. Supported from the rear of beam 19, by the brackets 20 is a rock shaft 21. Supported from the front of the beam 20, by the brackets 22 is'a rock shaft 23. The shafts 22, 23 rock in opposite 1 directions with respect to each other. The shaft 21 is rocked from shaft 23, and for such purpose the former is provided with a crank arm 24 to which is pivotally connected an elongated link 25 extending to and pivotally attached to a crank arm 26 onthe shaft 23. The crank arms 24, 26 are angularly disposed with respect to each other. The operating means for rocln'ng shaft 23 is indicated at 23'. Carried by the shaft 21 and disposed at an angle with respect to the crank arm 24 are lengthwise slotted, tubular arms 27 into which extend adjusting bars 28 for the section 2 of the top 1. The bars 28 are pivotally connected, as at 29 to' the arms 27 and also pivotally connected, as at 30 to the elements 5.

Carried by the shaft 23 and disposed at an angle with respect to the crank arms 26 are lengthwise slotted, tubular arms 31 into which extend adjusting bars 32 for the section 3 of the top 1. The bars 32 are pivotally connected, as at 33 to the arms 31, and also pivotally connected to the elements 7 as at 34. The arms 27 are disposed at an opposite inclination with respect to the arms 31.

Supported by the ribs 12, between the shafts 21 .and 22, approximately centrally vacuum acting to raise such top surface. The

roller 36 is of a diameter smaller than that of shaft 21. Cable 37 will travel in roller 36.

When the top 1 is lowered to 'prOduce maximum speed it will rest on the ribs 12, and is shifted from such position to full line position shown in Figure 1,-to provide a very low speed and low lift curve on the synchronous operation of the rock shafts to elevate the arms 27 and 31 and adjusting bars 28, 32.

When the top 1 is in lowered position the curvature thereof conforms to that of the top edge of ribs 12.

It is thought the many advantages of an aeroplane wing, in accordance with this invention, and for the purpose set forth, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated anddescribed, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is: I

1. An aeroplane wing comprising spaced, opposed ribs standing on longitudinal edge, engthwise curved and each includlng a leading and a trailing end, an expandible and contractile, lengthwise curved top arranged over said ribs and formed of two sections shiftable relatively to each other and slidably connected together, means for hinging the forward end of said top to the leading ends of said ribs, means for hinging the rear end of said top to the trailing ends of said ribs, spaced relnforcing elements secured to the lower face of each of said sections, each of said elements consisting of a series of in-. dependent, short, endwise opposed strips, and means supported from the ribs for expanding and contracting said top.

2. An aeroplane wing comprising a top curved lengthwise and formed of two sections shiftable relatively to each other, said ribs,

section when the sections are shifted relatively to each other.

3; An aeroplane wing comprising a top curved lengthwise and formed of two sections shiftable relative to each other, said sections at their inner ends overlapping, the inner end of one of said sections having bifurcations and slots, means carried by the inner end of the other of said sections for extending through said slots for slidably con necting the sections together, spaced reinforcing elements secured to the lower face of each of said sections, and the bifurcations at the inner end of one section providing clearances for the reinforcing element of the other section when the sections are shifted relatively to each other, each of said reinforcin elements consisting of a series of indepen ent, short, endwis'e opposed strips each independently secured to a section.

4. An aeroplane wing comprising spaced, opposed ribs standing on a longitudinal edge, curved lengthwise thereof and each including a leading and a trailing end, an expandible and contractable lengthwise curved top arranged over said ribs, means for hinging the forward, end of the top to the leading ends of said ribs, means for hinging the rear end of said top to. the trailing ends of the ribs, telescopic adjusting elements pivotally connected to said top for expanding and contracting it, rock shafts supported from said ribs for carrying said elements and further constituting means for shifting the elements to change the position of the top when such shafts are rocked, means extending from one of said shafts to the other to provide for the simultaneous operation of the shafts, and means for rocking one of said shafts.

5. An aeroplane wing comprising spaced, opposed ribs standing on a longitudinal edge, curved lengthwise thereof and each including a leading and a trailing end, an expandible and contractable lengthwise curved top arranged over said ribs, means for hinging the forward end'of the top to the leading ends of said ribs, means for hinging the rear end of said top to the trailing ends of the telescopic adjusting elements pivotally connecting said top for expanding and corn tracting it, rock shafts supported from said ribs for carrying said elements and further constituting means for shifting the elements to change the position of the top when such shafts are'rocked, means extending from one of said shafts to the other to provide for the simultaneous operation of the shafts, means for rocking one of said shafts, and windable cables supported from said ribs and connect ed with said top for maintaining the same in set position.

6. An aeroplane wing having a top curved lengthwise, constructed of multi-ply wood veneer and formed of a front and a rear section, said sections at their inner ends over- JOSEPH FLOYD MCKENZIE.

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